Valve



March 15, 1949. H. P..BLRKEME|ER 2,464,432V

VALVE Filed July 22, 1944 Patented Mar. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES NA'rsiu' OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to valves and more particularly to a valve incorporating a self-draining 'feature which lenables Vthe associated structure, such Yas a radiator, to be automatically drained under Yselected conditions.

For the purpose of description, my improved valve will be described as of the radiator type foi use in a steam'heating system. When the stand- ,ardv radiator valve is closed with ste-ain in the line, the steam condenses in the radiator with consequent danger of freezing ii the steam should be shut off vfor an indefinite period, such as in public buildings, schools, etc., over weekends or holidays. Thermostatically controlled 'valves have heretofore been devised to automatically drain the condensate baciato the boiler, out so far as I am aware, such valves have been .relatively complicated in construction have involved either a specialtype of valve, or .an auxiliary construction for use with a standard radiator valve which was structurally independent thereof.

Itis therefore the principal object of my invention to devise a Valve which is characterized by standard features in respect of the valve body, the valving element and the operating stem and Ahandle therefor, but in which the element is slightly modified and associated with a thermostatic control which provides for drainage of the associated part when the element is in a closed position.

A further object is to provide a valve of the character indicated in which the modication yof the valving element may be quickly and easily effected without removing the valve body from the steam line.

These and further objects of the invention will be set forth in the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are eiectuated will be definitely kpointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of a steam radiator and my improved valve connected in the steam line leading thereto.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line Ei-il in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing a modified arrangement of the valve.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral is designates a "steam pipe whose delivery end is threaded in the inlet side of a valve l l having a body l2 of the angle andglobe typ-e. The delivery side of the body l2 is connected by a nipple i3 to a radiator lli. Interiorly oi the body is a valve seat l5 that is engaged by a valve head l5 that may be advanced or retracted by a threaded stem il when actuated by the grip l in the usual manner. So far as described, the valve Il is of standard construction, but is characterized by the objections already noted.

To condition the valve for automatic drainage of the radiator when the valve is closed, a plurality of radial passages `It are formed in the head it in such a positionthat they are disposed well above the seatl l5 when engaged by the head It. As' indicated in Fig. 1, the passages I9' extend inwardly from 'the periphery ofthe head for a limited distance only and each passage at its inner end connects with a passage 2d that its parallel with the axis of and extends to the underside of the vhead lli. Accordingly, when the head engages the seat i5, communication is established between the pipe l il and the interior of the valve body it above the seat.

It is necessary to control the ow of steam through. the passages i9 and 2li, because otherwise steam would flow to the radiator when the valve ll was closed. This result is accomplished by means of an annular valve plate y2l which is slidable 'vertically on a stem 22 that depends axially from the head i ii, the plate being capable of closing the lower ends of the passages The plate v2 l'is controlled by a thermostatic element lili whichmay be composed of a pair of bimetalllc strips 2d and 25, each of which is horizontally U-shaped. The upperend of the strip 1211i 'is secured to the under side of the plate 2l whiie the lower end of the strip 25 is attached to an adjusting nut 25 threaded on the stem 22, and the heat, as during the presence of steam in theline,

and to retract the plate to an open position when cold. The shape of the thermostatic element 23 is a matter of choice since the broad aspectsof the invention contemplate the carriage of a thcrmostatically controlled valve by the valve head of a standard Valve.

When the valve head I@ is in the raisedor open position, the valve H functions in the normal manner topass steam to the radiator ifi. At this time, the .thermostatic element is, rbeing subjected to heat, hasshifted the plate 2l to close .the passages 2G, and the steam pressure acting on the plate serves as an additional closing factor.

When the valve Ii isclosed, the steam pipe lll coolsdown andthe element 2t retracts theplate 2l to uncover the passages 2&3 and thereby provides a communicating path between the vinterior of the valve body l2 and the pipe lil. Therefore, as the steam condcnses in the radiator I4, the water may freely return to the boiler. Freezing `of the water in the radiator is accordingly prevented', as well as any tendency to a 4waterhammereffect when the valve ll is again opened. It is also vimpossible toflll the radiator with "water until it leaksout of the radiator air vents.

y"A frequent cause of water in one-pipe steam radiators is the fact that the ordinary radiator valve may not be closed tightly when heat is no longer desired. However, steam is still present in the supply pipe and Will leak through the valve and condense in the radiator. The imperfect seating of the valve may be insuflicient to drain this condensate back to the boiler when the steam pressure in the pipe falls. My improved valve would drain this condensate adequately and promptly.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modied valve construction wherein a valve head 28 is provided with connecting radial and longitudinal passages 29 and 3G, respectively, all corresponding to the comparable parts shovvn in Fig. `1, and the passages, as' before, providing communicationibetween the interior of the valve body l2 and the steam pipe It. A valve plate 3i controls flow through the passages 29 and 3U and is slidable in a stem 32 that is threaded in and depends from the valve head 28. The under side of the plate 3l is contacted by one end of a thermostatic element 33 Which maybe constructed similarly to the element 23 and is guided in its movements by the stem 32. The other end of 'the element 33 bears against an adjusting nut 34,

threaded on the stem 32 which is held in adjusted position by a lock nut 35. So far as described. the foregoing construction is identical with that 'shown in Fig. 1, but differs vtherefrom in that the element is not secured tothe valve plate Bland adjusting nut 34 so that the element is capable of movement relative to the plate. A further distinction consists in" the provision 'of springs 36 in the passages 30 which tend to'shift the plate 3l to` an openy position when not restrained by the element 33 or pressure in the supply pipe. v

' The operation of the modication is generally identical with the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, except that, in the former, the capacity of the plate 3l for independent movement enables this plate to maintain the closure of the passages 'Sii-so long as adequate pressure exists in the pipe iii, even though the temperature may 'have dropped sufficiently toicause a retraction of the `element 33. Moreover, in the modication, both 'heat and pressure act independently to hold 'the plate 3l closed.

My improved valve may also be employed in hot Water heating systems since` it would enable water to drain from any'closed radiators when the system is drainedA which is of particular advantage in large installations. The invention is notrestricted `to'use with steam and hot water heating systems, but also may be used under any conditions requiring'a self-draining valve Where heat is available. Moreover', the valve may be used in any position s'o long as it is possible to drain liquid through the the passages 29 and 3i).

I claim: 1. Ina valve for controlling the iiow of ahot iluid, the combination of a valve body having a seat, a valve head operably related to the'sea't to regulate the primary'iiow in one 'direction 'and including 'drain passages'providing return communication through the head when engaging the seat, a valve plate controlling now through the passages,Y and' thermostatic means extending within vthe valve bodyLand' extendible in onedirection when heated to shift the plate to closing position and retractible when cold to permit vthe plate to shift to open position. Y

. 2. 4In a valve for controlling the 110W `of a hot passages i9 and 20, or

nuid, the :combination of a valve body having a seat, a valve head operably related to the seat to regulate the primary ow in one direction and including drain passages providing return communicaton through the head when engaging the seat, a valve plate controlling iioW through the passages and gravity actuated to an open position, and thermostatic means extending within the valve body and extendible in one direction when heated to shift the plate to closing position and retractible when cold to permit the plate to shift to open position.

3. In a valve for controlling the flow of a hot fluid, the combination of a valve body having a seat, a valve head operably related to the seat, to regulate the primary flow in one .direction and including drain passages providing return communication through the head when engaging the seat, a valve plate controlling flow through the passages, thermostatic means extending Within the valve body and extendible in one direction when heated to shift the plate to closing position, and means for shifting the plate to an open position when the thermostatic means retracts.

4. A self-draining valve for controlling the oW or a, hot fluid comprising a casing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a valve seat between the ports, a valve head operably related to the seat for controlling primary 110W fromthe vinlet to the outlet port, the valve head including drain passages providing return communication when the head engages the seat, 'a guide stein extending from the head Within the inlet port,'a valve piate on the inlet side ofv the head for vcontrolling ow through the passages, and thermostatic means carried by the stem and extending within the inlet port.' the means 4controlling a shifting of the plate to uncover the passages when the valve head closes and the temperature in the 40 inlet port falls below a predetermined value.

5. A self-draining, angle valve :for controlling the ow of a'hot fluid comprising a casing having an inlet port, an outlet port and a valve seat between the ports, the axes ofthe ports being sub- 45 stantially at right angles, a valve head operably related to the seat `for controlling primary flow from the inlet to the outlet portfthe valve head including drain passages providing return communication when the head engages the seat, and thermostatically controlled valve means extending within the inlet port for regulating ow through the passages and adapted to uncover the passages when the valve head closes and the temperature on the inlet side nof the head falls below a predetermined value.

HENRY P. BIRKEMEIER.

y CITED y The following A references are of record inthe France ,A- g Dec. 8,1937 Y 

